Student protests have forced the government to halt an increase in tuition fees
MORE
South African University Students Clash With Police Over Tuition Hikes
Oscar Pistorius Relaxes With Family After Prison Release
Oscar Pistorius Released From Prison and Put Under House Arrest
After days of peaceful student protests over a steep hike in university tuition fees marked by severe police crackdowns and the liberal use of stun grenades, South African president Jacob Zuma bowed to activists’ demands on Friday. In a short televised statement the embattled President announced that for the next year at least, tuition costs would not change. “We agreed that there will be a zero increase of university fees in 2016,†he said, conceding victory to a student movement that has surprised many in South Africa with its discipline and unity of purpose. Though protests in Pretoria erupted into chaos earlier on Friday, with activists tearing down security fences and setting portable toilets alight, most of the other marches remained peaceful, despite a strong police crackdown.
![[Image: south-africa.jpg?quality=75&strip=color&w=1100]](https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/south-africa.jpg?quality=75&strip=color&w=1100)
MORE
South African University Students Clash With Police Over Tuition Hikes
Oscar Pistorius Relaxes With Family After Prison Release
Oscar Pistorius Released From Prison and Put Under House Arrest
After days of peaceful student protests over a steep hike in university tuition fees marked by severe police crackdowns and the liberal use of stun grenades, South African president Jacob Zuma bowed to activists’ demands on Friday. In a short televised statement the embattled President announced that for the next year at least, tuition costs would not change. “We agreed that there will be a zero increase of university fees in 2016,†he said, conceding victory to a student movement that has surprised many in South Africa with its discipline and unity of purpose. Though protests in Pretoria erupted into chaos earlier on Friday, with activists tearing down security fences and setting portable toilets alight, most of the other marches remained peaceful, despite a strong police crackdown.